Zizyphi spinosi semen (Z. spinosi) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and wounds. However, toxicity in high doses was often observed due to the presence of alkaloids. This study was conducted to investigate the potential genotoxicity of Z. spinosi in vitro and in vivo. This was examined by the Bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) test using Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537 and Escherichia coli WP2uvrA, Chromosomal aberration was investigated using Chinese hamster lung cells and the micronucleus test using mice. Z. Spinosi did not induce mutagenicity in the Ames test, and it did not produce chromosomal aberration in Chinese hamster lung cells with and without metabolic activation, nor in the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the bone marrow cells in mice. Based on these results, it is concluded that Z. spinosi does not have mutagenic potential under the conditions examined in each study.

건조 생약재인 황기, 감초 및 진피의 감마선 조사 위생화의 가능성을 검토하기 위하여 감마선 조사 후 Samonella typhimurium TA98과 TA100 균주를 이용한 유전 독성학적인 안전성을 평가하고자 하였다. 시험 대상은 오염유기체 완전 구제 선량인 10kGy의 감마선으로 조사된 시료의 열수 추출물을 대상으로 하였으며 시험농도는 대상물질이 생약재임을 고려하여 50%의 균주생장억제를 나타내는 농도를 최고 농도로 하였다. 시험은 대사 활성